Traveling China

If I have found out one important thing during my travels to China it is this: Using ATM machines and trying to pay with my credit card is without doubt one of the most frustrating experiences I have ever had. This is made all the worse if you cannot speak Chinese and do not understand the cultural differences in China.So for all those about to embark on a china tour or corporate mice trip to China here are some useful notes to consider before you leave home:1: Credit cards are taken in some places but invariably I found many establishments will not accept foreign credit cards.This is especially true at airports, train and bus stations who will only accept cash payments. Even Ctrip online would not accept a western card over the phone because I was flying the next day. I had to travel to Guangzhou airport and pay in .. more»

Affected by multi-factors including the international finance crises and A H1N1 flu, the Chinese hotel market remains on downturn in the first half of this year.The overview of the Chinese hotel market in first half of this year.1.The occupancy rate is falling.According to the investigation, until the end of last year, the average renting rate of Chinese hotels is between 60% and 65%.The statistics in some places can't even let you feel optimistic: according to the investigation by the Beijing statistics bureau, affected by financial crisis and AH1N1 flu, the average renting rate of Beijing hotels is only 44.5%,down 10.1% year on year. The statistics shows, in first quarter of 2009,the average renting rate of Chinese hotels is 62.5%,down 5% year on year. 2.Average hotel rates is fallingFrom the last year, the room rates of top grade hotels in Chinese major cities are declining continuously, the average room rate has .. more»

Thailand encompasses an array of national parks and wonderful landscapes that go from the mountainous north right down to the myriad islands in the Thai Gulf and Andaman region. There are 79 national parks in all, covering all areas of the country and although fees for foreigners are steep, most people are blown away by the beauty.1. Khao Yai National ParkOne of Thailand's very best, Khao Yai National Park is massive and resides to the northeast of Bangkok. It is the country's oldest national park and comes with 500kms of hiking trails, huge waterfalls, pristine forest and around 300 species of birds alone. Elephants and tigers are among the big animals here.2. Khao Sok National ParkKhao Sok National Park is one of Thailand's most visited. Despite its remote nature it is wholly accessible by bus on the slow road between Surat Thani and Phuket. Khao Sok has a whacking great .. more»

The city of Beijing, as the capital city of China, is one of the world's most exciting and interesting travel destinations. One of the things that makes it so interesting is that it is very different than just about anywhere else in the world, so it is always best to prepare yourself before traveling to Beijing to minimize surprises and maximize the value of your trip. Here are three tips to consider when making plans to visit Beijing and the People's Republic of China:Tip 1. Avoid Traveler's Cheques - Bring Cash, Credit/Debit and/or ATM CardsUsually traveler's cheques are a good idea, but in China, the transaction fee is high, and the procedure can take hours to complete while you sit there in the bank with nothing to do. For some people, the wait may be worth the peace of mind for carrying traveler's cheques, but expect a long wait. ATM .. more»